If the members of the governing body of a chartered city are nominated or elected “by districts” or “from districts,” as defined in Section 34871 of the Government Code, upon the initial establishment thereof, the districts shall be as nearly equal in population as may be according to the latest federal decennial census or, if the city’s charter so provides, according to the federal mid-decade census or the official census of the city, as provided for pursuant to Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 40200) of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 4 of the Government Code, as the case may be. After the initial establishment of the districts, the districts shall continue to be as nearly equal in population as may be according to the latest federal decennial census or, if authorized by the charter of the city, according to the federal mid-decade census. The districts shall comply with the applicable provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301, et seq.), as amended. In establishing the boundaries of the districts, the council may give consideration to the following factors: (1) topography, (2) geography, (3) cohesiveness, contiguity, integrity, and compactness of territory, and (4) community of interest of the districts.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 39. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018